Venus is a Roman Goddess and Aphrodite is a Greek Goddess. Why are they fascinating? Because they are goddesses of love, fornication and fertility! Bettany Hughes has done a meticulous research on the subject and it is well reflected in this book. The author’s knowledge about the subject is applaudable. It may not go pages and pages like other history books, but its concise on point + has pictures of ancient artefacts related to the subject. Anyone who is interested in subjects of mythology should read this.

I wish there were more books like these about ancient deities and gods.

Thank you Netgalley, Publisher and author for this ebook in-exchange for a review!

Erudite, earthy writing, great scholarship and an eye for the telling details; in other words another triumph for Bettany Hughez

I am a huge fan of Greek mythology, so as soon as I saw this book exists, I had to read it. And it didn't disappoint. The writing is stunningly beautiful and the historical information was presented in such an enchanting way. I can't wait to read other works of the author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this brief dive into the history of Venus/Aphrodite. The length of the book made it particularly accessible and encouraged me to pick it up; I do wish more non-fiction followed this short, but in-depth format. Hughes travels through interpretations of Venus/Aphrodite in art, history and culture, her points often punctuated by the inclusion of a painting or relief. Her writing is clear, to the point and never patronises. This book is a great jumping off point for those wishing to know more about classical studies who don’t know where to start.

Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire promised a fresh take on a goddess who is of interest to those interested in Greco-Roman culture and epics, the world which St. Paul encountered in Corinth, the works of art produced in the Renaissance and the natural human interest in love and the sensual. While the author is obviously passionate and knowledgeable about the subject, this work is too brief to do justice to the subject or to leave the reader feeling they have a more solid grasp of the matter. Additionally, Hughes puts forward claims which receive far too little support or explanation. The strength of this book then is less in its ability as a biography and more in its treatment of art and artifacts.

Aphrodite was first a fertility icon. Later an icon of fighting a warrior. Now we see her as the goddess of love. In this book we are told that trivializing Aphrodite may be to our detriment. Yes she has always symbolized desire, but she is much more than that. This book is a wonderful way to discover the true Aphrodite. Well written and has fantastic pictures.

An excellent exploration of the origins and evolutions of the goddess of love. I would love to read this type of biography of other deities. Hughes has found an engaging style that makes the deep dive into that ancient world both informative and enjoyable her passion for her subject making it all the more exciting for readers.

Short, concise, history of the goddess which will either leave the reader satisfied or wanting more from more detailed sources. It wasn't bad but it wasn't memorable either, one of those read it and forget it superficial books.

This was an interesting but ultimately, a little bit too brief exploration of Aphrodite/Venus throughout history. Following a chronological structure, we see the origins of the goddess through to how she is represented in modern day in art. I thought that the writing style was really accessible, which is always welcome in a non-fiction book and that the structure was a great contributing factor in this accessibility. I just wish that this was a bit more of a deep dive into the subject matter, as it seems to be an area that Bettany Hughes has long had a passion for, so it seems a shame that she didn't go into more detail here.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This little book is a short biography of the Venus/Aphrodite and explains how the perception of the goddess has shifted through time. It is a very quick and easy read, always accessible, and never dry. The author seems to be very knowledgable and passionate about the topic. I really enjoyed her writing style, at times it felt like she was telling Aphrodite's story to a good friend over a nice cup of coffee.
There is no background knowledge of Greek/Roman mythology needed in order to understand the book, the author keeps it light and doesn't go into too much detail. That's my only criticism, I think. I would have loved to read more and more depth. However, it was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it.

I really wasn't sure what to expect going into this but I was pleasantly surprised. Although this is on the shorter side for a biography it is still packed full of art history, archaeology, and evidence that provides a wonderful history of Aphrodite. While the information is presented chronologically it also gives the reader insight as to how Aphrodite's image and reception evolved over time. This was very well researched, held my attention the entire time, and very intriguing. It's a great book for anyone who is interested in mythology.

I have enjoyed and learned from the documentaries of Bettany Hughes and this book is as enjoyable and as informational. Ms. Hughes makes mythology, archeology, religion, art and literature easily digestible as well as giving food for thought. She traces the history of a female goddess, usually called Aphrodite and later Venus, through place and time. Focusing on the changes humankind have gone through, she then explores the changes of what Aphrodite represents to various peoples.

I was not sure what to expect from this book, but it really delighted me. Hughes brings together documentary evidence, archeology, and art history in a very compelling and readable biography of Aphrodite. This was more of a popular history than an academic work, but the author cites her sources throughout, so it would be easy to dig in to more academic material if you desired.

The material is presented chronologically, and the reader sees how Aphrodite's reception and image has changed over time. Hughes is keen to note that this is often a reflection on the goddess' audience - as is so often the case with changing attitudes towards archetypal figures. Because Aphrodite was associated with women's desire (and the desirousness of women), we can look at interpretations and uses of Aphrodite as a signal to how feminine desire was seen more broadly - as natural, as prurient, or sinister.

In her conclusion, Hughes suggests that Aphrodite is still an important and highly legible figure in our art and culture. I would have liked to read more about this. But, this tome is short and sweet. It is an excellent introduction to the goddess. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Classical mythology, iconography, or mythology. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

"Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire," is a short cultural history of Aphrodite-Venus and the many incarnations of her throughout history, including being the Virgin Mary. I found the book interesting, well-written, and it was an excellent history book on Venus and the cultural impact.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Basic Books for an honest review.

A short, well researched and well written book about the goddess Aphrodite. There's plenty to learn and I loved the style of writing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Today Venus is one of the most well known Roman deities and her Greek counterpart Aphrodite isn't far behind. This book examines the origins and transformations of goddesses of fertility and warfare from Inanna, Astarte and Ishtar in the Middle East to Aphrodite in Cyprus. Their many aspects were worshiped and over time some gained prominence over others. Although Aphrodite retains her connection to violence it is her sexuality that gains in importance. That is the characteristic that carries through as Aphrodite becomes Venus and travels through the Middle Ages to the present.

Hughes presents a lot of information, but not always smoothly. The ancient history is more detailed and easier to follow, but from the Middle Ages on it became somewhat jumpy, with disconcerting gaps. Despite that there is plenty to learn here.

I was glad to find this book on NetGalley! I love mythology and discovering more about gods, goddesses, their history, what they become as time goes.

Aphrodite's history is fascinating to read. Her duality is there almost from the beginning of her "life": she is both sweet, charming, loving and destructive, dark, a killer. She is both a love goddess and a war goddess in a way. She is beauty and contention, desire and lust.

The reader learns a lot about Aphrodite-Venus's use in art, politics and History: she is portrayed in a certain way to deliver a certain message to the population - and, mostly to women. They get to see the evolution of her representation, of what she means. Her body is clothed in the beginning of her cult, then naked, then clearly exposed. She goes from an object of veneration to an object of desire and lust. She goes from goddess to whore, by way of the Virgin Mary when Christinity needed to shut down her cult, and so used her for their own.

The book was well-organised: the reader is gradually guided through Aphrodite-Venus's history, and gets to see her thanks to illustrations. I loved that some of them were present in the book to support what was written.

I also loved the conclusion: despite everything, despite patriarchy, despite slut-shaming and all that, Aphrodite-Venus left a mark and is still part of our lives today. She might still be used to objectify women, but she is also used to empower them.

This book is a beautifully written chronicle of the Greek goddess Aphrodite who had become Venus in Roman Empire.
Starting with her Middle-Eastern predecessors, Inanna and Ishtar, and citing the archaeological findings of her first forms in Cyprus, this is a very exciting book about the journey of Aphrodite and Venus from East to West, from iron age to modern day.
Myths and history go hand in hand in this thoroughly well researched book, with the beautiful images and representations of goddess through different ages.
It is easy to read thanks to the aptly named chapters which follow the chronological order and describe the transformations of the goddess through time and different geographies.
It was an enlightening read and I want to thank you to NetGalley and Basic Books for giving me access to this wonderful book.

This book is a great introduction to the goddess Aphrodite-Venus that we’ve all heard about before.

Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire is a new non-fiction book by Bettany Hughes. Unlike her previous titles, this one is briefer in its explanation of its topic. The book presents the story and meaning of Aphrodite-Venus through time, from its first appearance in history up to modern times. It covers an overview of what this goddess is associated with and the way it’s been viewed and used in societies in different parts of the world.

The language of this book is easily accessible to the general public. The book contains images of art to accompany the text. It also has references at the end. Since the book offers an introduction to the topic, these can be used by the reader to continue their journey of knowing more about this goddess. If you are new to the subject of this book, I would recommend this read. It offers an accessible overview for anyone to read. It is not detailed nor complex, since this isn’t its goal.

I would suggest this read to people who want to know how Aphrodite-Venus came to be and what that figure has meant before and what it means today.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on Goodreads and shared on Twitter. It will also be posted on Amazon Canada following its release.

Cover art: 5/5 so pretty

Aphrodite the goddess of sex! I leaned a lot of fun facts about Aphrodite & the way ancient Greeks thought about sex. It was a fascinating read and having pictures made it eve better.

This book was very well researched but a tad dry - I feel like Venus is such a juicy topic there was so much more entertainment and fun to be had. But overall it was a super quick read, about 200 pages and didn’t drag on too long. I was happy to learn more about a topic I knew very little of.